December 21st, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
Currently there is no treatment for recovering human nerve function after injury to the brain or spinal cord because central nervous system neurons have a very limited capability of self-repair and regeneration.
Regeneration in the central nervous system requires neural activity, not just neuronal growth factors alone. Chemical neurotransmitters relay, amplify and modulate signals between a [...]
December 20th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
Kneecap pain is a common problem and occurs when it is out of alignment.
There are several causes for the kneecap, or patella, to become misaligned including: flat feet, weak hip muscles (which cause the femur to move out of its precise alignment), leg length differences, tight muscles on the front and back of the upper [...]
December 19th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
Pain may be under-treated for 2 reasons. First, patients fear becoming dependent on medications, are concerned about side effects, believe that they should endure pain without complaining, or worry about bothering nurses. Second, physicians and nurses may administer ineffective doses of pain relievers because of personal biases, cultural attitudes, or a lack of knowledge.
Researchers wanted [...]
December 18th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
As a baby’s brain develops it grows neurons and connections. As the child grows the brain begins a process of paring down some of these connections—also known as synapses.
It has been a mystery how synapses were flagged for removal. Researcher Ben Barres, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurobiology, feels he has identified the long held mystery.
Barres’ team [...]
December 17th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, which results in the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.
Dr. Baolu Zhao, is author of an article, that investigates the effects of green tea polyphenols, a group of naturally occurring chemical substances found in plants that [...]
December 16th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
Combat and war-zone soldiers are expected to have higher incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent study by London, Ontario, researchers found Canadian peacekeepers suffer similar rates of PTSD to the combat and war-zone soldiers.
Psychiatrist J. Donald Richardson, professor Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, and his co-investigators, conducted a [...]
December 15th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
Depression is often thought to be a problem with brain chemistry, although recent evidence suggest that it may also be a structural problem with cells not regenerating as fast as normal. One possible reason for the lack of regeneration by the cells is from the toxic effects of stress and stress hormones.
Researcher, Kamillla Miskowiak, Department [...]
December 14th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
In 2005 health insurance plans and employers spent $1.2 billion on disease management programs. Management programs have become a key point in the national health care reform debate as policymakers search for a way to improve health care quality and access, while at the same time controlling cost.
Disease management has become viewed as the silver bullet [...]
December 13th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
One of the most common forms of dementia in the Western world is Alzheimer’s disease. It has been generally accepted that amyloid-B protofibrils is the most likely cause for the disease. Until now, the conditions under which this type of protofibril is formed and leads to the disease remained unknown.
Researchers at Vrije University, Brussels (VIB), [...]
December 12th, 2007 by Richard Brassaw
High blood pressure, or hypertension, appears to be associated with an increased risk for mild cognitive impairment according to Christiane Reitz, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York.
Researchers followed 918 Medicare recipients with an average age of 76.3-years. None of the participants showed signs of cognitive impairment at the beginning of [...]
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